One policeman martyred, four injured in Hangu polio team attack

Hangu – A police officer was killed and four others were wounded on Monday in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Armed men opened fire on a security team that was protecting polio workers in the area.

The attack happened near Chapri Waziran, which falls under Tal police station. The officer who lost his life was identified as Israrul Haq. He was from Shangla and was still in training at a police training centre.

The four wounded officers were taken to a nearby hospital. They are receiving treatment and their condition is being monitored.

After the attack, police quickly moved into the surrounding area to find those responsible. Security has also been increased to keep vaccination teams safe.

The attack came on the very day Pakistan started its second polio campaign of the year. The campaign will run until April 19. During this time more than 45 million children across the country are expected to receive polio drops.

According to the National Emergency Operations Centre, children will also be given vitamin A supplements as part of the drive to improve their immunity.

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Provincial targets include more than 23 million children in Punjab, over 10.6 million in Sindh, more than 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and over 2.6 million in Balochistan.

In addition, more than 460,000 children in Islamabad, over 228,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and more than 760,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be vaccinated.

Health authorities have reiterated that polio remains an incurable disease that can cause lifelong disability, stressing the importance of continued immunisation efforts despite security challenges.